Switch



- ct. 27, 1936. H. cATRoN ET AL. l2,058,566

Oct. 27, 1936. H. cATRoN Er AL SWITCH` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5,1934 /llIlllllIl/l Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESWITCH corporation of Indiana Application March 5, 1934, Serial No.'114,014

10 Claims.

10 hicle body or the like, whereby opening movement of the compartmentclosure member or vehicle door will operate the switch to actuate alight or the like.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a switch of thistype which isoperated solely by movement of the closure member, andwhich employs a projecting spherical roller member or plunger which isheld in inoperative position by engagement with the closure member, but,upon opening movement of the closure mem- 20 ber cr door, is resilientlyurged into switch-operating position. The switch may be employed toactuate suitable illuminating means within the compartment, or to soundan alarm or the like upon unauthorized opening of the compartment. rl'heilluminating means may be mounted directly upon the switch housing, ifdesired, or may be at a point removed therefrom.

An advantage provided by the present invention is the disposition of theswitch housing and operating structure entirely within the confines ofthe compartment, the only projecting portion thereof being the operatingmember which is disposed within the door opening where it is engaged bythe closure member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplifiedswitch construction in which the majority of structural parts are madefrom pressed sheet metal or the like, and in which the contact-engagingmeans is directly engaged by the projecting roller member or plunger. Inorder to simplify the construction still further, the roller member ispreferably spherical in shape so that no aligning or special positioningthereof is required.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision. of acompact switch structure, having relatively few parts, and in whichcontact is effected by a resilient wiping action, insuring positivenessof operation and lessening the likelihood `of the parts getting out ofposition or adjustment.

Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a switchstructure wherein the movable contact-carrying means is disposed g,within and directly engages the interior of the switch housing, wherebyit is guided for its reciprocatory movement during operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully from the following detailed description, which, takenin connectionwith the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in theart the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of a compartment,showing the engagement of the closure member with the switch;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the switch structure'shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is an 4end elevational view of the switch structure shown inFigure 2, with the terminal carrying member and light `socket removedtherefrom;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of switch;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the switch shown in Flgure;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 ofFigure '7 Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 with the terminalcarrying member removed; and

Figure lil is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Illlt ofFigure 8, showing certain details of the contact-carrying structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in

Figure l I have disclosed a compartment indicated generally by thereference numeral 5, having a front wall portion 6 provided with anopening indicated at 1 and adapted to be closed by the closure member 8engaging at its lower end against an inwardly projecting portion of thewall 6, as indicated at I0. The member 8 may be pivoted at one of itslateral edges to the compartment.

The wall G, adjacent the opening 1, has a rearwardly extending portionindicated at Il,

which serves as a supporting means for the switch housing I2, thehousing having extending portions indicatedgenerally at I3 in Figure 2,which are adapted'to receive securing screw members or the like I4 formounting the housing in fixed position upon the supporting flange Il. Itdesired, the housing may be spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured tothe ange.

The housing I2 of the switch is preferably rectangular in shape and isprovided with the integral end portion I5 forming a closure for the rearof the housing. The forward portion of the housing has projecting wingportions I5 which are adapted to be engaged by the bent over edges I1 ofa plate member I8 disposed across the front of the housing.

Disposed within the housing I2 and engaging the lower surface andnormally extending side walls thereof is a contact carrying member indi-;cated at 20, of inverted U-shape, having a projecting portion 2l struckout of the rearward wall thereof and aligned with a correspondingprojecting portion 22 formed in the rear wall I5 of the housing, theprojecting portions 2I and 22 serving as seating means for a coiledspring member 23 which normally urges the contact carrying means 2Dforwardly within the housing I2.

The housing I2 and the contact carrying member 2li are both formed fromsheet metal stampings, and the member 28 is provided with turned updefining edges 24 which are adapted to provide for sliding movement ofthe member 20 upon the inner surface of the bottom of the housing I2.

Formed in the upper surface of the contact carrying member 20 is astruck out or raised contact surface 25, which projects above the planeof the member 2li and is disposed substantially centrally thereof asshown in Figure 4. A suitable insulating member 26, substantiallyrectangular in shape, is provided with a cutaway portion adapted toreceive the raised contact surface 25 of the member 20, and is seatedupon the upper surface of the contact carrying member 2li. A pair ofstruck-up tongue members 21, formed integral with the member 2li, engagein suitable notches formed in the edges of the member 26 for centeringthe member 28 with respect to' the Itot of the member 20. 'Iheinsulating member extends substantially coplanar with the contactsurface 25.

The switch housing I2 is closed by means of a suitable insulating platemember 30, which is adapted to t over the open face of the housing I2,and which is held in position thereon by means of the extending tongueportions 3| formed integral ywith the housing I2 and extending throughsuitable notches formed in the member 38. These tongue portions are slitand bent over, as shown in Figure 2, and engage the outer surface of themember 30 to hold it in fixed position on the housing I2.

The terminal plate 30 is adapted to carrya terminal lug member 32,which`mernber is provided with a portion of reduced diameter, indicatedat 33, extending through the member 30 and peened over at its inner edgeto embrace the inner surface of the member 30 for holding the lug 32securely in position. A contact member indicated at 34 is centered aboutthe reduced portionY 33 of the lug 32, and is provided with a keyportion 35 adapted to secure it in nonrotative position with respect tothe member 30. The extending end portion of the member 34 is curved backto form a contact, as indicated at 35, and is formed of resilientmaterial. A suitable cap screw or terminal screw 31 is threaded into theterminal lug 32, for securing a conductor or the like to the terminal.This conductor is shown in Figure 1 by the reference numeral 38.

The member 38 is provided with a second contact, indicated by thenumeral 40, which is secured in position on the inner surface of themember 35 by means of the rivet 4I, the terminal 40 having a centeringlug or tongue 42 engaging within a suitable recess formed in the member38. The member 4I) is formed of resilient material, and extends inwardlyinto the housing, terminating in a smoothly curved contact portion 43adapted to be engaged by the raised contact surface 25 of the member 20.Thus, upon movement of the member 20 into the position shown in Figures3 and 4, the contact surface 25 thereof is wiped across the contactportion 43 of the contact 4I), to establish contact between the member20 and the contact 40. The casing or housing I2 is grounded to the frameof the vehicle or to any other suitable ground connected to the closuremember, and thus connection between the two contacts 34 and 40establishes a completed circuit.

A socket, indicated generally by the reference numeral 45, comprises a.sheet metal member having a rear portion bent upwardly, as indicated at45, and inwardly to form a receiving means or socket for the base 41 ofan electric light bulb 48. The contact stud 49, extending from the base41, is adapted to be engaged with the surface 36 of the contact 34. Thecircuit is thus traced through the terminal lug 32 and contact 34 to oneterminal of the bulb 48. The other terminal of the bulb, comprising thebase portion 41, is electrically connected to the resilient wingportions 46 which are electrically connected through the rivet 4I, thecontact surface 25 of the member 2li, and the housing I2, to ground.

The bulb portion 48 of the light is disposed within the confines of thesocket member 45, and its tip portion is held within the curvedcentrally extending arm member 50 carried by the socket 45. It is thusapparent that the bulb 48 may be easily removed from and placed withinthe socket, and that it isv electrically connected through the contacts48 and 35, with the electrical circuit controlled by the switch. Thebase portion of the socket 45 is preferably provided with a lug 5|,which is adapted to extend into a suitable opening formed in the member3D for non-rotatably mounting the socket in position on the outer faceof the closure member 30.

Referring now in detail to the actuating means for the switch, thiscomprises a spherical metallic member indicated at 53, which member hasits center disposed rearwardly of the closure plate I8, the plate I3having an opening formed therein of a diameter slightly less than thediameter of the sphere 53. Thus, outward displacement of the sphere orplunger member from the housing by the spring tension is prevented byits engagement with the closure plate I8. The member 53 has directabutting engagement with the contact carrying means 20, and the springmember 23 normally forces the plunger into engagement with the closureplate I8.

The door 8 is provided with a flanged or extruded switch engagingportion 54, which, when the door is in the position shown in Figure l,is adapted to force the ball member 53 inwardly, moving the member 20inwardly with respect to the housing I2 against the pressure of thespring member 23. This moves the contact surface 25 away from engagementwith the contact surface 43 of the contact 40, and thus breaks thecircuit. During all times that the door is in closed position, theplunger or ball member 53 is thus pressed inwardly by engagement with aportion of the surface of the door, and consequently no electric circuitis established through the bulb 4B. However, When the door 8 is opened,the spring 23 forces the plunger outwardly by means of thecontact-carrying member 20 and moves the contact surface 25 intoengagement with the contact 40. This completes the circuit and actuatesthe light member.

It will thus be seen that the actuation of the switch is controlledentirely by movement of the door member 8, this movement eitherdepressing or allowing the plunger 53 to move inwardly or outwardly withrespect to the housing I2, and

consequently disengaging or engaging the contact surface 25 with thecontact 40 to break or complete the circuit.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 6to 10, inclusive, the switch disclosed in this embodiment is adapted foruse in substantially the same manner as the switch shown in Figures 1 to5, inclusive, but in this case the means actuated by the switch, such asthe light 48, or any other suitable means, is disposed at a pointremoved from the switch structure.

The switch of this invention comprises a housing 55, of generallyrectangular shape, having an end closure member 56 provided withnormally extending tongue portions 51 engaging in and preferablyspot-welded to suitable recesses formed in the side walls of the housing55. These recesses are indicated at 58.

The rear wall 56 of the housing is provided with an inwardly extendingboss portion 59, which is adapted to form a seat for one end of thespring member 60.

The housing is provided with a closure member indicated at 6| formed ofinsulating material or the like, which is provided with notched edgesadapted to receive extending tongue portions 62 carried by the upperedges of the housing and the rear wall 56 thereof, which are bent overto engage the outer surface of the member 6| to hold it firmly inposition over the housing. A pair of terminal lug members 63 areprovided, and are carried upon the outer surface of the switch closuremember 6 I. The lugs 63 terminate in suitable receiving portionsprovided with terminal screws 64 for securing conductors or the likethereto. Rivets 65 extend through the lugs and the insulating member 6|for securing the lugs in position upon the closure member. At theirinner ends, the lugs 63 are provid-ed with secondary riveting members66, which have their inner surfaces rounded to provide a pair of spacedcontacts 61.

A suitable carrier member, of generally U- shape formed from a sheetmetal stamping or the like and indicated at 10, is adapted to havesliding movement within the housing 55, and has its rear wall providedwith a boss portion 1| forming a seat for the opposite end of the spring60. The spring thus tends to urge the member 1D outwardly of the switchhousing. Disposed substantially centrally of the member 10 is a secondspring member 12, biased at one end about a raised boss 13 formed in thebase of the member 10, and engaging at its Opposite end within a recessformed in an insulating contact-carrying member 14. The member 14 issubstantially movement within the carrier member 10. as shown in Figure8.

Referring now to Figure 9, it will be noted that a metallic contactengaging member 16 is provided, extending along the upper surface of themember 14, and adapted to engage the contacts 61 formed on the innersurface of the rivets 66. The contact member 16 has a pair of downwardlyextending end portions passing through notches 11 formed in the member14, and turned over at their inner ends, as indicated at 18 in Figure10, to mount the contact-engaging member 16 securely upon the carriermember 14.

' It will be apparent that upon movement cf the member 10 outwardly ofthe switch housing 55 under the tension of the spring 60, the contactengaging member 16 will engage the surfaces 61 of the rivets 66, andwill force the carrier member 14 inwardly within the U-shaped member 10against the pressure of the spring 12, due to the projection of thesurfaces 61 inwardly of the plane of the member 6|. Thus a smoothresilient wiping action is provided across the surfaces of the contact61. Upon engagement of the member 16 across these surfaces, contact iseffected between the terminal lugs 63, and consequently the circuitconnected to these lugs is energized.

The housing 55 is provided with a pair of extending wing portions- 80which are adaptedto have secured thereacross a closure plate member 8|,the member 8| being spot-welded orotherwise suitably secured to the wingportion 80. The wing portions 80 and the member 8| are Vadapted toprovide for mounting of the switch in desired position adjacent a dooropening or the like, the switch being provided with a sphericalactuating member 82 restrained against displacement outwardly of thehousing 55 by means of the opening formed in the closure plate 8|, whichopening is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the actuatingmember 82. The actuating member 82 has direct abutting engagement withthe U- shaped contact-carrying means, and, when unrestrained againstoutward movement, assumes the position shown in Figure 8, in whichposition the carrier 10 is so disposed as to engage the member 16 acrossthe contact surfaces 61 of the rivets 66. When a door or similar closuremember i s moved into closed position, the member l2 which projects intothe door opening, is depressed, moving the member 1|) rearwardly withinthe housing 55, and disengaging the contact engaging member 16 from thespaced contacts 61, whereby the circuit is broken between the terminals64 of the lugs 63. Preferably the switch member is provided withreenforcing rib portions 83 adjacent the open end thereof.

It will thus be apparent that upon mountingr of the switch shown ineither of the embodiments described, with the actuating members 53 or 82disposed within a door opening or the like, movement of the closuremember into closed position will depress the actuating member, -movingthe contact engaging means out of engagement, and thus opening theswitch circuit. The switch is held in inoperative position againstthetension of the spring member mounted within the switch housing, and uponopening movement` of the closure member away from the door opening orclo'- sure opening, the spring will force the contact carrying meansoutwardly, and will engage the switch contact to close a suitablecircuit for ac-. tuating an electric light, sounding an alarm, or forsimilar purposes.

It should be noted that the major parts of the switch construction areformed from stamped sheet metal, that relatively few parts are provided,and that by the provision of the actuating spherical roller member orplunger, a simplified switch structure is provided which is completelyenclosed, and which may be disposed in position entirely within thecompartment or enclosure. Further, the means controlled by actuation ofthe switch can be mounted either directly upon the switch, or at a pointremoved therefrom, without departing from the scope of the invention.Further, by the provision of the spring members 12 or the resilientcontact 40 of Figure 3. a resilient wiping action is provided across thecontact surfaces, which maintains them clean, and serves to assurepositiveness of operation. The unitary housing construction, with all ofthe movable parts disposed for reciprocatory movement therein,simplifies the construction of the switch, and reduces the likelihood ofany of the parts coming out of alignment or adjustment.

Inasmuch as various changes in the details of design and construction ofthe switch provided by the present invention may be made, withoutdeparting therefrom, we do not intend to be limited to the particularconstruction disclosed, but only as defined by the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim:

1. A switch of the class described having a metallic switch housing ofchannel section, contact-engaging means reciprocable in said housing andhaving an integral raised contact surface, an insulating member disposedcoplanar with said surface and carried by said contact-engaging means,means on said contact engaging means for maintaining said insulatingmember in fixed position with respect to said contact surface, saidcontact engaging means having direct contact engagement with saidhousing opposite said contact surface, an insulating closure member forthe housing having contact means extending therethrough into saidhousing, means in said housing normally urging said contact-engagingmeans into engagement with said contact means, a ball member confinedwithin said housing and normally forced partially outwardly thereof bysaid contact-engaging means, whereby external engagement of said ballmember to move said member inwardly disengages said contact-engagingmeans.

2. In a switch of the class described having a metallic housing ofchannel-shaped section, a closure `member therefor having an inwardlyprojecting spring contact, and means for engaging said contactcomprising an inverted U-shaped member slidable endwise in said housingand having a raised contact-engaging surface, insulating means disposedabout and coplanar with said contact surface, and integral means carriedby said U-shaped member for holding said insulating means in position.

3. A contact-engaging member for a'switch of the class describedcomprising an inverted U- shaped member having rounded end portionsproviding for sliding movement thereof, an integral raised contactsurface struck out of said member, insulating means disposed about andcoplanar with said raised surface, and integral projecting means formedon said member for securing said insulating means in position forconjoint movement with said member.

4. A switch comprising a channel-shaped housing having an insulatingclosure member secured thereto, a resilient contact depending into saidhousing, a carrier member slidable in said housing and having a raisedcontact surface adapted to engage said contact, insulating means carriedby said carrier member and disposed coplanar with said surface, and aball projecting partially out of one end of said housing and movableaxially of said housing for moving said surface out of engagement withsaid contact.

5. A switch comprising a switch housing, an inverted U-shaped carriermember therein having reciprocatory movement in said housing, the endsof said U-shaped member being reversely rolled to engage the floor ofsaid housing for free sliding movement in said housing, spring meansbiased between an end wall of said housing and the adjacent leg of saidU-shaped member, contact means in said housing, contact means formedintegral with and projecting from the upper surface of said U-shapedmember and normally urged into engagement with said contact means, andan insulating plate lying substantially coplanar with said last namedmeans and held in fixed position about said projecting means.

6. A switch comprising a switch housing, a contact-engaging memberreciprocatory in said housing, spring means biased between one end ofsaid housing and said member, a resilient contact extending into saidhousing, an integral raised planar contact surface on said member forengaging said contact, planar insulating means carried by said memberand extending coplanar with said surface, and operating means projectingfrom the opposite end of said housing and having abutting engagementwith said member.

7. A contact-engaging member for a switch of the class describedcomprising an inverted U- shaped member having outwardly rolled endportions, an integral planar contact portion projecting upwardly from.said member, integral upwardly extending lugs spaced upon oppositesides of said contact portion, and a planar insulating member havingopposed recesses engaged by said lugs and having a central cut-outportion receiving said raised contact portion of said member.

8. A contact-engaging member for a switch of the class describedcomprising a reciprocatory member having a raised planar contact portionextending upwardly from the central portion thereof, a planar insulatingmember having a central opening and fitting over said contact portion incoplanar relationship therewith, and means formed integral with saidcontact engaging member for retaining said insulating member inposition.

9. In combination, a rectangular switch housing, a reciprocatoryinverted U-shaped contactengaging member confined entirely within saidhousing for endwise movement therein, spring means biased between oneend of said housing and one leg of said member, a spherical actuatingmember, means for retaining the major portion of said spherical memberwithin the opposite end of said housing, said spherical member havingabutting engagement with the other leg of said U-shaped member, Contactmeans extending into said housing, and means for engaging said contactmeans carried by and extending upwardly of and substantially centrallyof the outer surface of the base portion of said U-shaped member.

l0. A switch of the class described including a rectangular switchhousing having an insulated terminal-carrying closure plate providedwith an amate@ internally projecting resilient Contact, an invertedU-shaped metallic member disposed entirely within said housing forendwise reciprocatory movement therein and in continuous electricalengagement with said housing, spring means biased solely between thecenter of one end wall of said housing and the center ofA the adjacentleg portion of said member, a raised contact portion on the outersurface of the base of said member normally maintained in engagementwith said Contact by said spring means, in-

sulating means carried by said outer surface about said contact portionand coplanar there1 with, and means having point contact with the centerof the opposite leg portion of said member and. adapted to be engagedexternally of said housing for moving said member out of contactingengagement and moving said insulating means between said Contact andsaid member.

HAROLD CATRON. RALPH L. DASHNER. MARION W. MORRIS.

